SKT vs KT vs LG U+: Which prepaid tourist eSIM to get for South Korea?

Looking to get an eSIM to help you stay connected on your next trip to South Korea? Let's take a look at the various options, how you can get an eSIM, and which one to get!

P.S. It is commonly believed that the cheapest way to get connectivity when abroad is to get a local SIM card or eSIM. But that's not necessarily true! Read to the end of the article to find out more.

Overview of Telcos in South Korea

South Korea is known to have some of the fastest internet speeds in the world. The telecommunications market in South Korea has many players, with the top few key players being:

• SK Telecom
• Korea Telecom (KT)
• LG U+

All three operators provide good coverage and internet speed all throughout South Korea. But, if you had to compare the three, SKT is commonly known to have better speeds and coverage, followed by KT, then LG U+.

All three telcos provide short-term prepaid plans with eSIM options, perfect for tourists visiting the country.

SK Telecom Prepaid eSIM Options for Tourists

SK Telecom provides prepaid eSIM options that are suitable for tourists. SK Telecom's plans all provide unlimited data for fixed durations, at the following rates:

• 1 day (24 hours) at 6,600 KRW
• 3 days (72 hours) at 18,000 KRW
• 5 days (120 hours) at 27,500 KRW
• 10 days (240 hours) at 38,500 KRW
• 20 days (480 hours) at 60,500 KRW
• 30 days (720 hours) at 71,500 KRW

However, it is important to note that the SK Telecom prepaid eSIM does not come with a local phone number. You will not be able to make local calls or send messages with that eSIM. If you need a local phone number, you can consider getting the physical SIM instead (at same prices).

With a SKT prepaid eSIM, you will not be able to top-up your eSIM after the duration of the plan expires. If you need additional days, you will need to purchase a new eSIM.

How to get a SK Telecom Prepaid eSIM

If you want to get a SK Telecom Prepaid eSIM directly from the operator, you can purchase it online at their website, or at the counters at the airport upon arrival (after immigration). Note that you will have to provide your personal details (including passport number and full name) to make a purchase of the prepaid eSIM.

KT Prepaid eSIM Options for Tourists

Similar to SKT, KT's prepaid options all provide unlimited data. The rates are fairly similar to SKT, but discounts are offered for certain plans if you buy them online:

• 1 day (24 hours) at 6,600 KRW
• 3 days (72 hours) at 18,000 KRW
• 5 days (120 hours) at 24,700 KRW for online purchases (at-counter purchases 27,500KRW)
• 10 days (240 hours) at 34,600 KRW (at-counter purchases 38,500 KRW)
• 20 days (480 hours) at 54,400 KRW (at-counter purchases 60,500 KRW)
• 30 days (720 hours) at 64,300 KRW (at-counter purchases 71,500 KRW)
• 60 days (1,400 hours) at 107,200 KRW
• 90 days (2,160 hours) at 143,000 KRW

An edge that KT has over SKT's offerings it that KT provides an option for you to purchase a prepaid eSIM that comes with a local number for calls and messages. However, if you need a local number, this can only be purchased at the physical counters in the airport - you will not be able to get them online and wouldn't be able to enjoy the online rates. There is also a minimum top-up charge of 5,500 KRW that you will need to pay to make outgoing calls and send messages.

Another advantage of a KT eSIM is that they also allow for extensions in case you need the eSIM for a longer period of time.

How to get a KT Prepaid eSIM

If you want to get a KT Prepaid eSIM directly from the operator, you can purchase it online at their website, or at the counters at the airport upon arrival (after immigration). Note that you will have to provide your personal details (including passport number and full name) to make a purchase of the prepaid eSIM.

LG U+ Prepaid eSIM Options for Tourists

LG U+'s plans are structured similarly to SKT and KT, where unlimited data is provided for a fixed duration. They also offer discounts for online purchases, with rates lower than SKT but generally higher than KT:

• 5 days (120 hours) at 25,000 KRW for online purchases (at-counter purchases 27,500KRW)
• 7 days (168 hours) at 32,000 KRW for online purchases (at-counter purchases 35,000 KRW)
• 10 days (240 hours) at 35,000 KRW (at-counter purchases 38,500 KRW)
• 15 days (360 hours) at 50,000 KRW (at-counter purchases 55,000 KRW)
• 20 days (480 hours) at 55,000 KRW (at-counter purchases 60,500 KRW)
• 30 days (720 hours) at 65,000 KRW (at-counter purchases 71,500 KRW)
• 40 days (960 hours) at 90,000 KRW (at-counter purchases 99,000 KRW)
• 60 days (1,400 hours) at 130,000 KRW (at-counter purchases 143,000 KRW)

Similar to KT, LG U+ also offers the option of getting a Data + Voice eSIM in case you need a local number to make calls. You will need to make a minimum top-up of 5,500 KRW (which entitles you to about 20 minutes of talk time), and you will have to make your purchase at the physical counters (online purchase is not allowed).

How to get a KT Prepaid eSIM

If you want to get a LG U+ Prepaid eSIM directly from the operator, you can purchase it online at their website, or at the counters at the airport upon arrival (after immigration). Note that you will have to provide your personal details (including passport number and full name) to make a purchase of the prepaid eSIM.

SKT vs KT vs LG U+: Which prepaid eSIM should I get?

Well, it depends on your needs and priorities. But, in general:

• If you don't need a local number to make calls and send messages, but you need the fastest speed and coverage: Get a SKT eSIM
• If you don't need a local number, and price is more important than speed: Get a KT eSIM
• If you need a local number to make calls and send messages: Get a KT eSIM
• If you need a local number and fastest speed, but price and convenience is not as important: Get a SKT physical SIM card

Get a Nomad Travel eSIM for South Korea at better prices

If cost is your primary factor for consideration, and you do not need a local phone number, then we suggest that you get a Nomad travel eSIM for South Korea instead.

Nomad provides two types of plans for South Korea — an unlimited plan (similar to the Korean telcos) and a regular volume-based plan. If you need an unlimited plan, then the prices offered by the Korean telcos are definitely more competitive.

However, if you do not need unlimited data (which you likely wouldn't need when traveling), then getting a regular volume-based plan from Nomad can be more cost-effective! Free WiFi is almost everywhere in South Korea too, so it is unlikely that you will need that much data.

Let's take for instance a 5-day trip to South Korea, where you would require approximately 5GB of data:

• You can get a 5GB Nomad eSIM for South Korea from 14 USD (~18,600 KRW), which is cheaper than even KT's 5-day plan that is priced at 24,700 KRW.

Or if you will be in South Korea for 7 days, and you find that you might need more data, perhaps you would want to consider getting a 10GB plan instead.

• You can get a 10GB Nomad eSIM for South Korea from 20 USD (~26,600 KRW), which is still cheaper than KT's 10-day plan at 34,600KRW or LG U+'s 7-day plan at 32,000 KRW!

Nomad's travel eSIMs also allow add-on purchases, so any time you need more data or if you want to extend the validity of your eSIM, simply purchase an add-on from the Nomad app or web store!

Which networks does Nomad's South Korea eSIMs work with?

Nomad's eSIMs work with either SKT or KT networks, so you can choose the plan that you want. The KT plans are generally cheaper and would be more cost-effective than the plans offered by the local telcos.

However, Nomad's KT plans are only on 4G speed. If you need 5G speeds, then pick a Nomad plan that works on the SKT network. It is important to note that the SKT plans are more expensive than the KT plans, but the prices are still comparable to the prices that are offered directly by SKT — with an added advantage of 5G speeds and option to extend your eSIM validity!